Keypunch machine



March 12, 1968 A. MCLEA ET AL 3,372,866

7 KEYPUNCH MACHINE I Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IV/(l/OZAS f.STE/IVER By p mwwan March 12, 1968 F. A- MCLEAN ET AL KEYPUNCH MACHINE 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 INVENTORS.

FRANCIS A. Ame/1w M10 mvom ro/v mmoms E. sremee 67 WW Em Mgrch 12, 1968MCLEAN ET AL 7 3,372,866

KEYPUNCH MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 18, 1965 FIG.5

March 12, 1968 CLEA ET AL 3,372,866

KEYPUNCH MACHINE Filed Oct. 18, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS FRANCISA. M znw Awaiv KNOW! rozv 0/ /0110: 5. STEM/ER Mardl 1968 F. A. MCLEANET AL KEYPUNCH MACHI NE 5 Sheets-Sheet. 5

Filed Oct. 18, 1965 N n Mmuw q n T T T M S WA E m m mum BY Pym i Elm/ZnUnited States Patent 3,372,866 KEYPUNCH MACHINE Francis Allen McLean,Nixon Knowlton, and Nicholas E. Steiner, Hawkesbury, Ontario, Canada,assignors, by mesne assignments, to Grant Darbyson, Ontario, CanadaFiled Oct. 18, 1965, Ser. No. 496,952 11 Claims. (Cl. 234-123) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE An electric keypunchmachine for cutting notches in theedges of tabulating cards. Cards to be punched are placed on areciprocable card table of the machine. The cards are punched by meansof pivotable punches each of which is controlled by a key. When a key isdepressed, the corresponding punch is held stationary, and as thepunches are in the path of the card table the card is cut as the cardtable reciprocates. If the key is not depressed, the punch pivots freelyupon engagement with the card and the card is not cut.

This invention relates to a machine for punching cards or. the like andin particular to an electric keypunch machine for cutting notches in theedges of tabulating cards.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, efiicient andreliable keypunch machine for use with tabulating or classificationcards such as the kind having perforations in marginal areas of thecards. The perforations are usually divided into digit fields with theperforations of each field identified by the numerals 1, 2, 4 and 7. Acard is coded by cutting a notch in the card from a selected perforationto the adjacent edge of the card, and a stack of coded cards can besorted by inserting a needle into selected perforations. The cards whichhave been notched at the needle location drop out of the stack.

Another object of the invention is to provide a keypunch machine havingan efiicient automatic key elevating mechanism that is adapted to eitherautomatically elevate selected coding keys or else to permit them toremain depressed during operation of the machine.

A further object of the invention is to provide a keypunch machinehaving a simple, efiicient and reliable timed drive mechanism.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similarparts, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine constructed in accordance withthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly broken away, showingthe principal components of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing anelectric motor and a solenoid actuated brake;

FIG. 4 is an elevational view, showing the relationship between a timingcam and a related microswitch;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view, partly in section and partly broken away,taken from the righthand side of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5, showing afield of four punches in alignment with grooves in a die;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 5, showingtwo adjacent correction keys and related structure;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing the relationship betweena depressed coding key and related structure after a card has beenpunched;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing anelevated coding key;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing details of an automatickey elevating mechanism in its cancellation condition with a key leverin its operative condition at the start of a cycle of operation;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional. view similar to FIG. 10 showing akey lever that has been returned to its inoperative position by theautomatic key elevating mehcanism; and

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the line 12-12 of FIG. 11showing the relationship between two adjacent key lever actuators andrelated key levers.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred form of a keypunch machine isindicated by reference numeral 10, and its principal components includea frame 11, a keyboard 12, a reciprocable card table 13, an automatickey elevating mechanism 14 and a drive mechanism 15. The card table 13is movable between a rest position and a working position duringoperation of the machine, and a card positioned on the card table isnotched by selected punches which are held stationary during operationof the machine. The machine 10 is particularly adapted for cuttingnotches in the edges of tabulating or record cards, such as the kindmentioned above having perforations in marginal areas.

Frame The frame 11 includes a rectangular base 16 and two opposedupstanding side walls 17 and 18 which are secured to the base. A cover19 encloses the machine. Paper chips which are formed during a punchingoperation fall through an opening 20 in the base. It is intended thatthe table on which the machine rests have an open re ceptacle directlybelow the opening 20 for receiving paper chips.

Keyboard The keyboard 12 includes coding keys 22, manual correction keys23, repeat/cancel levers 24 and an operation key 25. The keys 22 arearranged, for example, in four rows and are divided into columnar digitfields containing four coding keys 22 which are marked with suitableindicia such as the numerals 1, 2, 4 and 7, respectively. Each codingkey 22 is secured to the outer end of a key lever 26 which is pivotallysecured intermediate its end to a transverse shaft 27 the ends of whichare removably secured to the side walls 17 and 18. The key levers 26 areof one-piece construction and have inner end portions 26a which arealigned in relatively deep grooves 28 of a transverse bar 29. The endsof the transverse bar 29 are fixed to the side Walls 17 and 18. Eachinner end portion 26a terminates in a slender projection 2612 which isadapted to hold a related punch stationary during operation of themachine, as will be explained.

The key levers 26 are movable between position with the coding keys 22FIG. 5, and an operative position with the coding keys 22 depressed asshown in FIG. 8. Secured to the underside of the transverse bar 29 areflat, outwardly extending springs 30, one for each key lever 26. Thesprings 30 bear against cam surfaces 26c to permit the key levers 26 toassume only the inoperative or the operative positions. The key levers26 are progressively longer from rear to front, as shown in FIG. 5.

The manual correction keys 23 are secured to levers 31 which are pivotedat their outer ends about the transverse shaft 27. There is onecorrection key 23 and hence one lever 31 for each field. Each lever 31includes a flat, rectangular portion 31a having at its outer end a pairof an inoperative elevated as shown in opposed flanges 31b extending atright angles therefrom.

The rectangular portion 31a rests upon the upper edges J of a relatedfield of key levers 26, but in order to show the above structure moreclearly the single lever 31 shown in FIG. 2 has been pivoted forwardlyuntil it is nearly vertical. In its usual horizontal position, however,each lever 31 spans the related field of key levers 26 so that wheneverany one coding key 22 of the field is depressed the related lever 31 israised slightly (see FIG. 8). If the coding key 22 was depressederroneously it can be elevated again by depressing the relatedcorrection key 23.

The relationship between the correction keys 23, the levers 3'1 and thekey levers 26 is shown in FIG. 7. The structure associated with theextreme right-hand field is shown in solid lines, and the structure ofthe next adjacent field is shown in chain dotted lines. The flanges 31bof each lever 31 are bounded by and are in sliding contact with twoouter key levers 26, namely those which are respectively associated withthe numeral 7 and numeral 1 coding keys of the field. Inside the areabounded by the fianges 31b are two inner key levers 26, namely thoseassociated with the numeral 4 and numeral 2 codingy keys of the field.Proper alignment is preserved by sleeves 32, 33 and 34 which are slippedonto the transverse shaft 27. The sleeves 32 separate adjacent fields,the sleeves 33 separate the inner key levers 26 from each other, and thelonger sleeves 34, one at each side of the keyboard, respectivelyseparate the extreme right and left-hand key levers 26 from the adjacentside walls of the frame.

The automatic key elevating mechanism 14 is controlled by therepeat/cancel levers 24 which are pivoted about a fixed transverse shaft35 which extends between the side walls 17 and 18. The repeat/cancellevers 24 are movable between a repeat position (see FIG. and a cancelposition (see FIG. their movement is limited by a fixed transverse bar36 which also extends between the side walls 17 and 18. The upper endsof the repeat/ cancel levers 24 are exposed so that they can be graspedby hand, and their lower ends terminate in rollers 24a. Additionalstructure associated with the automatic key elevating mechanism will bedescribed in detail below.

The operation key 25, when depressed, closes a normally open microswitch37.

Card table The card table 13 is a solid, generally rectangular bar thatextends between the side walls 17 and 18 of the frame. End plates 13aare fixed to the opposite ends of the card table 13, and the card tableis supported by a transverse circular shaft 38 which extends throughopenings 39 in the end plates 13a. The ends of the shaft 38 are fixed tothe side walls 17 and 18. The card table 13 is pivoted about the shaft38 and is adapted to reciprocate between a rest position and a workingposition, as will be described. Secured to the front of the card table13 is a die 40 which is formed with a series of narrow notches 41.Punches 42, each corresponding to a related coding key 22, are pivotedabout the shaft 38 and are aligned with the notches 41 in the die 40.Each punch 42 is generally rectangular, is formed from a fiat plate, andhas a working end 42a which is adapted to cut notches in an edge of acard positioned on the card table 13. Each punch 42 has an accuratelyformed circular opening 43 near its lower end for receiving the shaft38, and the punches 42 are kept in spaced parallel alignment byengagement of their upper end portions 42b with the notches 41 in thedie 40 (see FIGS. 2 and 5). This alignment is perhaps most clearly shownin FIG. 6. The punches 42 are freely movable to and fro about the shaft38. Inward travel is limited by a fixed transverse circular shaft 48which extends between the side walls 17 and 18, and outward travel islimited by engagement with the inner ends of the key levers 26 (seeFIGS. 8 and 9).

FIGS. 1 and- 5 show a typical card 44 positioned on the card table. Atransverse rectangular guide 45, preferably formed of clear plasticmaterial, keeps the card flush against the die 40. The guide 45 issupported at its ends Drive mechanism The drive mechanism 15 includes anelectric motor 49 which is secured to the base 16. The motor 49 isoperatively connected to a rotatable transverse drive shaft 5% through aworm gear 51 and a pinion 52. The ends of the drive shaft are journalledfor rotation in the side walls 17 and 18, and the drive shaft 59 carriesan eccentric roller 53 at each of its opposite ends, just inside theside walls 17 and 18. Each roller 53 is in rolling contact with a flatrear face of the related end plate 13a. The card table 13 is inwardlybiassed by a pair of springs 54 which are secured at one end to the cardtable 13 and at their opposite ends to posts 55 which extend from theside walls 17 and 18, respectively.

The motor 49 is provided with a solenoid actuated brake 56 which isautomatically released when the motor 49 is energized. Referring to FIG.3, the brake 56 includes a solenoid 57 and a spring loaded pressure disc58. The solenoid57 is energized contemporaneously with the motor. Fixedto the outer end of the motor shaft is a disc 59 having a brake lining60, preferably of cork, on its inner face. Normally the pressure disc 58is pressed firmly against the lining 60, but when the motor 49 and thesolenoid 57 are energized the pressure disc 58 is pulled inwardly by thesolenoid 57 thereby permitting the motor to run freely. Conversely, whenthe motor 49 and the solenoid 57 are de-energized, the pressure disc 58again bears against the lining 66 thus braking the motor 49. Additionalbraking force is provided by the drive mechanism itself; note that theconnection between the motor 49 and the drive shaft 50 is through theworm gear 51 and the pinion 52.

During one complete revolution of the drive shaft 50, the card table 13moves forwardly from its rest position to its working position and thenrearwardly to its rest position, under the influence of the eccentricrollers 53. It is therefore necessary that the rotation of the driveshaft 50 be limited to exactly one revolution, and this is accomplishedas follows. A timing cam 61 is fixed to the drive shaft 50 and isengagable with a roller 62 of a microswitch 63. The microswitch 63 issupported by a bracket 64- secured to the base 16, and is normally open.The relationship between the timing cam 61 and the roller 62 is shown inFIG. 4 (the card table is in the rest position), and in this positionthe circuit of the microswitch 63 is open since the roller 62 is notengaged by the timing cam 61. Both microswitches 63 and 37 are in theelectrical input circuit of the motor 49 and when either microswitch isclosed the motor 49 is energized. Thus, upon depressing the operationkey 25, the microswitch 37 closes and the motor 49 is energized, causingthe drive shaft 51) to rotate. After the drive shaft 50 rotates througha small angle, the roller 62 is engaged by the timing cam 61 and themicroswitch 63 closes thereby keeping the motor 49 energized even afterthe microswitch 37 opens. Eventually the roller 62 drops off the end ofthe timing cam 61, and the microswitch 63 opens thereby de-ener-gizingthe motor and rea-ctivating the brake. The point at which the roller 62is disengaged from the timing cam 61 is such that the drive shaft 50comes to rest in its original or rest position, with the timing cam 61and the roller 62 again in the position shown in FIG. 4.

Automatic key elevating mechanism The automatic key elevating mechanism14 can be set in either a repeat or a cancellation condition byadjusting the repeat/cancel levers 24. When a repeat/chancel lever 24-is pulled outwardly (repeat position) as shown in FIG. 5, related keysremain depressed after a cycle of operation so that a number of cardscan be identically coded without resetting the keys. Conversely, when arepeat/ cancel lever 24 is pushed inwardly (cancel position) as shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, related keys are automatically elevated after a card ispunched. This is accomplished as follows. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5, alongitudinal slot 65 is formed in each side wall 17 and 18. A transverserectangular bar 66 reciprocates in the slots 65 during operation of themachine, and the ends of the bar 66 are pivotally connected to links 67that are driven by cranks 68 which are respectively fixed to theopposite ends of the drive shaft 50.

Resting upon the upper surface of the bar 66 are elongated, generallyflat longitudinal levers 69 having inner ends 69:: which curve upwardlyslightly and outer ends 6912 of a more pronounced upward curvature. Thelevers 69 are held in position by spring loaded screws 70, and there isone lever 69 for each field of key levers 26. Each lever 69 isassociated with a key lever actuator 71. The key lever actuators 71 areU-shaped (viewed from the front) and are pivotally supported by a fixedtransverse shaft 72 which extends between the side walls 17 and 18.

Each key lever actuator 71 includes a plane, rectangular upper portion71a and two opposed V-shaped flanges 71b. Normally the key leveractuators are in the position shown in FIG. with their upper portions71a held against the upper end of a stop member 73 by springs 74. Thesprings are secured at one end to one flange 71b of each key leveractuator 71 and at their opposite ends to a fixed transverse shaft 75which extends between the side walls 17 and 18. Rectangular openings 76(see FIG. 2) in the upper edge of the stop member 73 accommodate thesprings 74 (see FIG. 12), and spacers 77 and 78 respectively separatethe key lever actuators 71,frorn the side walls of the frame and fromeach other.

Referring now to FIG. 10, the mechanism is shown in its position at thestart of a cycle of operation. The key 22 has 'been depressed, and therelated key lever 26 is in its operative position and is in closeproximity to the related key lever actuator 71. The repeat/cancel lever24 is in the cancel position, and its roller 24a rides up onto thecurved outer end 6% of the lever 69 causing the opposite end 69a topress firmly against the lower end of the key lever actuator 71. Duringoperation of the machine, the bar 66 at first moves outwardly, towardsthe front of the machine so that the end 69a springs upwardly afterdisengaging the key lever actuator 71. After reaching the limit of itsoutward travel, the bar 66 reverses its direction and begins to moveinwardly. In FIG. 11 the end 69a of the lever 69 has struck the keylever actuator 71, cansing it to pivot in a counter-clockwise directionwhen viewed from the right. The inner edge of the upper portion 71a ofthe key lever actuator 71 engages the key lever 26 cansing it to returnto its inoperative position where it is held in place by the spring 30.The bar 66 continues to move upwardly until it reaches its inward limit,the end 69a drops under the flange 71b, and the key lever actuator 71 isreturned to the position shown in FIG. by the spring 74. After reachingits inward limit, the bar 66 moves outwardly again for a short distance,and eventually comes to rest with the end 69a in the position shown inFIG. 10, directly under the lower end of the key lever actuator 71. Asshown in FIG. 12, each key lever actuator 71 spans four key levers 26 ofa field, so all key levers 26 of the field are automatically returned totheir inoperative positions it the related repeat/cancel lever is in thecancel position. When the repeat/ cancel lever 24 is in the repeatposition, as shown in FIG. 5, the end 69a of the lever 69 does notengage the related key lever actuator 71 during operation of themachine, so the related key levers 26 remain in their originalpositions.

Operation 0 machine At the start of a cycle of operation the mechanismof the machine is in the rest position shown in FIG. 5. The card 44 ispositioned on the card table 13, and the card table 13 is at the inwardlimit of its travel. The keys 22 of FIG. 5 are elevated, andconsequently the projections 26b on the inner ends of the key levers 26do not engage the related punches 42. When the motor 49 is energized thedrive shaft rotates, and the eccentric rollers 53 rotate in a clockwisedirection when viewed from the right. This causes the card table topivot outwardly towards the front of the machine. The card 44 engagesthe working ends 42a of the punches 42, but since the punches are notheld by the projections 26!) of the key levers 26, they are free to moveoutwardly with the card table and the card is not punched. FIG. 9 showsthe relationship between the above parts when the card table is at thelimit of its outward travel. After the card table reaches its outwardlimit, its motion is reversed and it finally comes to rest at its restposition. If a key 22 is depressed, however, the related punch 42 isheld stationary by the projection 26b on the related key lever 26. Thus,as the card table moves outwardly the card is notched by the workingends 42a of those punches which have been held stationary. This is shownin FIG. 8. The card table has moved to the limit of its outward travel,and the card has been notched by the punch 42, forming a smallrectangular chip of paper 79.

What we claim as our invention is:

1 A machine for punching a card or the like comprising: a frame;

a reciprocable card table which is pivotally secured to the frame alonga transverse pivot axis and which is movable between a rest position anda working position;

a plurality of normally movable punches having working ends which areadapted to cut away portions of a card positioned on the card table, thepunches being individually pivotal about said pivot axis, and theworking ends being movable between a first position within the path ofthe card table and a second position outside the path of the card table;

punch selection means for holding selected punches stationary with theirworking ends in said first position during operation of the machine,whereby the card is punched as the card table is moved from the restposition to the working position.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein the punch selection meanscomprises a plurality of manually settable key levers having inner endswhich are engagable with the selected punches, each key lever being ofone-piece construction and being pivoted intermediate its ends.

3 A machine for punching a card or the like comprising:

a frame having two opposed side walls and a fixed shaft extendingbetween the side walls;

a card table which is pivotally secured to the shaft and which ismovable between a rest position and a workmg position;

a die which is carried by the card table;

a plurality of normally movable punches having working ends which areadapted to cut away portions of a card positioned on the card table, thepunches being pivotally secured to the shaft and being aligned forsliding engagement with openings in the die, the working ends beingmovable between a first position within the path of the card table and asecond position outside the path of the card table;

a plurality of manually settable key levers having inner ends which areadapted to hold selected punches stationary with their working ends insaid first position during operation of the machine, whereby the card ispunched as the card table is moved from the rest position to the workingposition.

4. A machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein the working ends of thepunches are separated from the die by at least the card thickness whenthe card table is in the rest position.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein the key levers are each ofone-piece construction and are pivoted intermediate their ends, andwherein the punches are normally movable independently of the card tableexcept when engaged by the card.

6. A machine for punching a card or the like comprising:

a frame having two opposed side walls and a fixed shaft extendingbetween the side walls;

a card table which is pivotally secured to the shaft and which ismovable between a rest position and a working position;

a die which is carried by the card table;

a plurality of normally movable punches having working ends which areadapted to cut away portions of a card positioned on the card table, thepunches being pivotally secured to the shaft and being aligned forsliding engagement with openings in the die, the working ends beingmovable between a first position within the path of the card table and asecond position outside the path of the card table;

a plurality of manually settable key levers having inner ends which areadapted to hold selected punches stationary with their working ends insaid first position during operation of the machine, whereby the card ispunched as the card table is moved from the rest position to the workingposition; and

a plurality of pivoted correction key levers which rest upon upper endportions of the key levers and which are adapted to disengage the keylevers from related punches when said correction key levers are pusheddownwardly.

7. In a machine for punching a card or the like, the machine including aframe and a plurality of key levers which are pivoted intermediate theirends and which are movable between an operative and an inoperativeposition;

automatic key elevating means that is optionally settable in a repeatcondition and in a cancellation condition, said means being adapted, inthe cancellation condition, to engage selected key levers which are inthe operative position and return them to the inoperative positionduring operation of the machine, said means comprising:

a transverse bar that is carried by the frame and which reciprocatesinwardly and outwardly during operation of the machine;

a plurality of spaced longitudinal levers which are pivotally secured tothe transverse bar intermediate their inner and outer ends;

a plurality of repeat/ cancel levers which are optionally settable in arepeat position and in a cancel position, the repeat/ cancel levers whenin the cancel condition being adapted to depress the outer ends ofrelated longitudinal levers to thereby raise the inner ends thereof, theraised inner ends of said longitudinal levers being operativelyconnected to key levers which are in the operative position and adaptedto automatically return said key levers to the inoperative positionduring operation of the machine.

8. Automatic key elevating means as claimed in claim 7 wherein there isa longitudinal lever and a repeat/cancel lever for every group of fourkey levers, and wherein there is a pivoted key lever actuator for eachgroup, each actuator being engagable with the raised inner end of alongitudinal lever of the group, and each actuator being adapted toreturn the key levers of the related group from the operative positionto the inoperative position when said actuator is engaged by the raisedinner end of a related longitudinal lever during operation of themachine.

9. A machine for punching a card or the like comprising:

a frame;

a reciprocable card table carried by the frame and movable between arest position and a working position;

a plurality of normally movable punches having working ends which areadapted to cut away portions of a card positioned on the card table, theworking ends being movable between a first position within the path ofthe card table and a second position outside the path of the card table;

a plurality of manually settable key levers that are movable between aninoperative and an operative position, the key levers having inner endswhich, in the operative position, are adapted to hold selected punchesstationary with their working ends in said first position duringoperation of the machine, whereby the card is punched as the card tableis moved from the rest position to the working position; and

automatic key elevating means that is optionally settable in a repeatcondition and in a cancellation condition, said means being adapted, inthe cancellation condition, to engage selected key levers which are inthe operative position and return them to the inoperative positionduring operation of the machine.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein the automatic key elevatingmeans comprises a transverse bar that is carried by the frame and whichreciprocates inwardly and outwardly during operation of the machine, aplurality of spaced longitudinal levers which are pivotally connected tothe transverse bar intermediate their inner and outer ends, a pluralityof repeat/cancel levers which are optionally settable in a repeatposition and in a cancel position, the repeat/cancel levers when in thecancel condition being adapted to depress the outer ends of relatedlongitudinal levers to thereby raise the inner ends thereof, the raisedinner ends of said longitudinal levers being operatively connected tokey levers which are in the operative position and adapted toautomatically return said key levers to the inoperative position duringoperation of the machine.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein there is a longitudinallever and a repeat/ cancel lever for every group of four key levers, andwherein there is a pivoted key lever actuator for each group, eachactuator being engagable with the raised inner end of a longitudinallever of the group, and each actuator being adapted to return the keylevers of the related group from the operative position to theinoperative position when said actuator is engaged by the raised innerend of a related longitudinal lever during operation of the machine.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GERALD A. DOST, Primary Examiner,

